Latin Dance for Cancer Survivorship

Overseen By Arlette Chavez, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Disqualifiers: Sleep apnea, Heart failure, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether Latin dance can improve sleep quality for Hispanic cancer survivors. It compares regular care to an 8-week Latin dance program to determine if the dance sessions also alleviate fatigue and emotional distress. Participants should be Hispanic cancer survivors with sleep problems who completed their main cancer treatments at least three months ago. The trial suits those who are not currently very active and do not regularly practice Latin dancing. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore a culturally engaging activity that may enhance well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants may be on long-term therapies like hormonal therapy or immunotherapy.

What prior data suggests that this Latin Dance intervention is safe for cancer survivors?

Research has shown that Latin Dance is a safe and enjoyable activity for people with cancer. In previous studies, participants in community dance classes reported positive experiences without safety issues. They observed improvements in weight, fitness, and mood.

Other studies found that participants experienced better social interactions and reduced body fat after an eight-week Latin Dance program. The dance sessions were manageable, with no major negative effects reported. This suggests that Latin Dance is a safe way to enhance both physical and mental health during cancer recovery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using Latin Dance as a treatment for cancer survivorship because it offers a fun and engaging way to support recovery. Unlike traditional treatments like medication or physical therapy, this method integrates rhythmic movement and music, which can boost mood and improve physical fitness. The program's virtual format means participants can join from anywhere, making it convenient and accessible. Overall, this approach aims to improve quality of life and emotional well-being, adding a dynamic element to survivorship care.

What evidence suggests that Latin Dance might be an effective treatment for sleep quality in Hispanic cancer survivors?

Research has shown that dance is a safe and feasible exercise for individuals during and after cancer treatment. Studies have found that participants in dance programs, such as Latin dance, often experience positive changes in weight, fitness, and emotional and social well-being. In this trial, participants in the intervention arm will join a virtual Latin Dance group program. Some Hispanic cancer survivors have reported better sleep after participating in Latin dance sessions. This enjoyable and widely accepted exercise may increase physical activity and reduce body fat across various groups. Overall, Latin dance could effectively improve quality of life and manage cancer-related side effects. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Evelyn Arana, DrPH

Principal Investigator

Rutgers Cancer Institute

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Hispanic cancer survivors experiencing sleep disorders or poor sleep quality. Participants should be interested in Latin Dance as a potential therapy and willing to either take dance sessions or continue with their usual care.

Inclusion Criteria

Self-identify as Hispanic and/or Latino(a)

Be able to read and understand English and/or Spanish

Physically Inactive (<150 minutes of vigorous exercise/week within the past 3 months)

Exclusion Criteria

Current regular Latin dancing practice within the past year (2-3 times a week over a period of two months that is not interrupted)

Inability to understand informed consent

Life expectancy <12 months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants in the intervention arm will participate in the virtual Latin Dance group program that meets for 8 weeks, 2x each week, for 75 minute sessions

8 weeks

16 virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in sleep quality and other secondary outcomes post-intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Latin Dance

Trial Overview The study is testing if Latin Dancing can improve sleep quality compared to usual care routines. It will also look at how the dance affects life quality, emotional distress, insomnia, and fatigue among participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will participate in the virtual Latin Dance group program that meets for 8 weeks, 2x each week, for 75 minute sessions.

Group II: Usual care arm Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the usual care arm will receive care as usual and will not participate in the Latin Dancing program.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Lead Sponsor

Trials

471

Recruited

81,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A culturally sensitive telephone counseling intervention for 23 Latina-American cervical cancer survivors showed significant improvements in physical well-being and overall quality of life after 6 sessions.

The study indicates that such behavioral interventions are feasible and beneficial for this population, suggesting the need for further randomized controlled trials to assess long-term effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing physical well-being and overall quality of life among underserved Latina-American cervical cancer survivors: feasibility study. Ashing-Giwa, KT.[2021]

An evidence-based intervention for breast cancer education was successfully adapted for Latina breast cancer survivors, addressing cultural relevance through certified translation and cognitive interviews.

Out of 40 participants, 30 completed the intervention, and 14 provided positive feedback on its usefulness and relevance, indicating potential for improving quality of life and reducing disparities among Latina breast cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adapting an evidence-based survivorship intervention for Latina breast cancer survivors. Meneses, K., Gisiger-Camata, S., Schoenberger, YM., et al.[2021]

An 8-week pilot study involving 20 breast cancer survivors, primarily Latina, tested Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi as physical activity interventions, but did not show significant changes in steps per week, BMI, or body fat percentage overall.

Despite the lack of significant changes, the interventions were well-received and showed small to moderate effect sizes for increasing physical activity and reducing body fat, suggesting they could be beneficial for engaging high-risk breast cancer survivors in future studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi effects on physical activity and body composition in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study. Soltero, EG., Larkey, LK., Kim, WS., et al.[2022]

A pilot study involving 54 women recovering from breast cancer showed that a 32-hour dance program significantly improved various health measures, including weight, fitness levels, and quality of life, with effect sizes ranging from intermediate to large.

The positive changes in physical and emotional well-being suggest that dance can be a valuable rehabilitation option for women post-breast cancer treatment, highlighting the need for further collaborative research across countries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dancing With Health: Quality of Life and Physical Improvements From an EU Collaborative Dance Programme With Women Following Breast Cancer Treatment. Karkou, V., Dudley-Swarbrick, I., Starkey, J., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10400145/

The effectiveness of community dance in people with cancer Evidence suggests dance is a safe and feasible form of physical activity both during and after cancer treatment.

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-dyssomnias-2-2025-25b19

Latin Dance for Cancer Survivorship · Info for Participants Participants in these studies experienced positive changes in weight, fitness levels, and emotional and social functioning without reported safety concerns.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06844981?cond=Sleep%20Disorder&country=United%20States&locStr=United%20States&viewType=Table&rank=5

Effects of Latin Dancing on Sleep Quality in Hispanic ... Using iterative qualitative feedback from Hispanic cancer survivors, the investigators will develop a Latin dance intervention for Hispanic cancer survivors.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388122000226

Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi effects on physical activity ... Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi are engaging and acceptable PA modalities that are promising for improving PA and body fat among diverse, high-risk BCS.

5. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/effects-of-latin-dancing-on-sleep-quality-in-hispanic-cancer-survivors

Effects of Latin Dancing on Sleep Quality in Hispanic Cancer ... The primary objective is to assess the feasibility, acceptability and explore the impact of a culturally appropriate Latin Dance ...

6. bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16221-6

Effect of Latin dance on physical and mental health Soltero [9] reported significant reductions in body fat among breast cancer survivors engaged in an 8-week Latin dance and Tai Chi intervention ...

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635578/full

Dancing With Health: Quality of Life and Physical ... Dancing with Health is multi-site pilot study that aimed to evaluate a dance programme for women in recovery from breast cancer across five European countries.